I ended 2012 in a bit of a frazzled state - trying to recover from a bout of cold, unpacking after the family trips, getting the boys sorted out for school, doing some spring cleaning around the house and preparing some documents for work all at the same time. Didn't help that everyone else seemed to be skirting the edges of the chaos, leaving it for me to resolve!
I felt like I was emerging from a four week break more overwhelmed and tired than when I started...so needless to say, I was rather short with those around me and not particularly upbeat about 2013.
Then I read this book:
The authors share how they discovered the solution to living empowered lives instead of being frustrated by "failed resolutions and unrealized goals" as so many do despite their best intentions at the start of each year. They each adopted ONE Word that became their "driving force" for the year. This simplicity and focus enabled them to stay on course and served as constant reminder of their commitment to transform or grow a particular aspect of their lives.
Discovering this word involves a 3-step process: Look In (spend time listening to ourselves and what our heart is telling us so we can discover our area of need), Look Up (listen to and allow God to guide us towards this word), Look Out (step outside our comfort zone and find opportunities to live out our word).
Sounded compelling yet easy enough so I decided to give it a try.
Once I started giving it some thought, a steady flow of words came to mind quite readily... "care", 'heart", "joy", "patience" (I need loads of this!!) But none really resonated. In the quiet of one sleepless night, a word popped into my heart and it is here to stay.
"Witness": to see, attest to, person who gives testimony of what he's seen or experienced
Something I need to do so much more of...
When I feel out of sorts and discouraged, I only need to look around to see the great things God has done in my life and the wonderful people He has surrounded me with. Even little events in the everyday are worth witnessing - they bear testimony to the His grace and daily providence.
Beyond this, the word poses a decidedly unnerving personal challenge - how convincing am I as a spiritual witness in my relationships with family, friends and colleagues? Do my actions and words bear witness to God's work in my life? Am I living out His word and commandments in ways that display compassion and empathy for others?
I am trying to put my word into action, albeit slowly and not always successfully...
When I feel the compulsion to yell at my boys or utter an unkind word to hubby, I remind myself of the impact of my actions. I try to be a worthy witness to God's Love and temper my grumpiness with gentleness, or at the very least, with calmly and softly spoken words.
What other use He may have for me in 2013, remains to be seen.
View at dawn while on a cruise holiday around Malaysia.
Sheon
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